Poll: Cuomo's lead over Molinaro narrows to 13 points in race for New York governor

Poll: Cuomo's lead over Molinaro narrows to 13 points in race for New York governor

The race’s minor party candidates — Green Party member Howie Hawkins, Libertarian Larry Sharpe and former Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner — are supported by 7 percent of voters, with 7 percent still undecided, the poll found.

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By Luke Parsnow

With just two days to go until the election, Democrat Andrew Cuomo’s lead over Republican Marc Molinaro was nearly cut in half to 13 points in the race for New York governor, according to a Siena College poll released Sunday morning.

The poll said that Cuomo now leads Molinaro 49-36 percent among likely voters, which is down from 50-28 percent in October.

Days before voters go to the polls, Molinaro has narrowed Cuomo’s lead. Republicans are ‘coming home’ to support their nominee much stronger than last month, although Cuomo continues to do better with Democrats than Molinaro does with Republicans,” said Siena College pollster Steven Greenberg. “Independents have flipped, giving Molinaro a 7-point lead after favoring Cuomo by 10 points last month. Cuomo’s huge lead in New York City more than cushions his narrow three-point lead in the downstate suburbs, and upstate, where Molinaro leads by 10 points.”

The poll also found that more voters now view Cuomo unfavorably for the first time since he’s been governor. Only 49 percent of voters now view him favorably, which is down from a 50-46 percent rating last month.

Molinaro’s problem is that he still remains largely unknown to nearly half the electorate, with a 29-25 percent favorability rating, compared to 24-20 percent last month.

“Women continue to favor Cuomo two-to-one, however men now tilt toward Molinaro after supporting Cuomo by 12 points last month,” Greenberg said. “While Cuomo largely held his base – Democrats, New York City voters, women, black, Jewish, and younger voters – Molinaro picked up with Republican and independent suburban and upstate men.”

The race’s minor party candidates — Green Party member Howie Hawkins, Libertarian Larry Sharpe and former Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner — are supported by 7 percent of voters, with 7 percent still undecided, the poll found.

“Voters are poised to give Cuomo a third-term. The question appears to be by what margin?” Greenberg said. “Will Democrats and New York City voters turnout in bigger numbers than they have in recent midterms? If so, Cuomo has the chance to run up the score. If not, or if Republican enthusiasm matches increased Democratic enthusiasm — particularly in upstate and the suburbs where there are hotly contested House and state Senate races — then the final results will likely look similar to four years ago.”

Democratic candidates in other statewide races have also seen their leads shrink, but only slightly. According to the poll, Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand has a 58-35 percent lead over Republican Chele Farley, down from 61-29 percent in October.

“Gillibrand’s favorability rating, 46-34 percent, fell a little again this month, and voters give Gillibrand her highest unfavorable rating in eight years,” Greenberg said. “Farley was unknown to 89 percent of voters in February and remains unknown to 86 percent of voters on the eve of the election. Gillibrand gets 90 percent support from Democrats, picks up 20 percent of Republicans and splits independents with Farley. Gillibrand is supported by more than three-quarters in New York City, and leads by nine points upstate and in the downstate suburbs.”

The poll also found that state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli leads Republican Jonathan Trichter 62-25 percent, up from 58-26 percent. The race for state attorney general has Democrat Tish James leading Republican Keith Wofford 49-37 percent, compared to 50-36 percent last month.